System and method for multi-hop data backup

Abstract

Systems and methods of backing up data to a replication target such that the data is recoverable from the replication target when a source application and one or more other intermediary replication targets are unavailable. A first deduplicated data object associated with an application is received at a first intermediary copy data management system based on a first schedule. The first deduplicated data object is replicated to generate at least one of a second deduplicated data object at a second copy data management system according to a second schedule.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A computerized method of backing up data to a replication target such that the data is recoverable from the replication target when a source application and one or more other intermediary replication targets are unavailable, the method being executed by a processor in communication with memory storing instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 receive, at a first intermediary copy data management system, a first data object associated with an application, the first data object:
 being replicated from a source copy data management system protecting the application, the first data object generated based on a first image associated with the application; and 
 being received based on a first schedule, the first schedule defining a first set of times associated with replicating the first data object from the source copy data management system to the first intermediary copy data management system, 
 
 create, at the first intermediary copy data management system, a second image associated with:
 the first data object when the first intermediary copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the first data object, and 
 one of the first set of times, the one of the first set of times associated with a scheduled replication of the first data object; and 
 
 replicate, at the first intermediary copy data management system, the first data object to generate at least one of a second data object and a third image at a second copy data management system, the second data object and the third image being generated based on the second image and according to a second schedule, the second schedule defining a second set of times associated with replicating the second data object from the first intermediary copy data management system to the second copy data management system, the third data image associated with:
 the second data object when the second copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the second data object, and 
 one of the second set of times, the one of the second set of times associated with a scheduled replication of the second data object, 
 
 thereby backing up data to a replication target such that the data is recoverable from the replication target when the source application and one or more other intermediary replication targets are unavailable. 
 
     
     
       2. The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 define the first set of times based on at least one of:
 an on demand replication, the on demand replication corresponding to a user request to replicate data at a first request time; and 
 a first service level agreement. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 define the second set of times based on at least one of:
 an on demand replication, the on demand replication corresponding to a user request to replicate data at a second request time; and 
 a second service level agreement. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when the first intermediary copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the first data object by comparing a first hash associated with an existing object at the first intermediary copy data management system with a second hash associated with the first data object. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when the second copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the second data object by comparing a third hash associated with an existing object at the second copy data management system with a fourth hash associated with the second data object. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image comprises compressed data. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image is associated with a full backup of the application when the first image is associated with a first backup of the application. 
     
     
       8. A computing system of backing up data to a replication target such that the data is recoverable from the replication target when a source application and one or more other intermediary replication targets are unavailable, the computing system comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory coupled to the processor and including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive, at a first intermediary copy data management system, a first data object associated with an application, the first data object:
 being replicated from a source copy data management system protecting the application, the first data object generated based on a first image associated with the application; and 
 being received based on a first schedule, the first schedule defining a first set of times associated with replicating the first data object from the source copy data management system to the first intermediary copy data management system 
 
 create, at the first intermediary copy data management system, a second image associated with:
 the first data object when the first intermediary copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the first data object, and 
 one of the first set of times, the one of the first set of times associated with a scheduled replication of the first data object; and 
 
 replicate, at the first intermediary copy data management system, the first data object to generate at least one of a second data object and a third image at a second copy data management system, the second data object and the third image being generated based on the second image and according to a second schedule, the second schedule defining a second set of times associated with replicating the second data object from the first intermediary copy data management system to the second copy data management system, the third data image associated with:
 the second data object when the second copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the second data object, and 
 one of the second set of times, the one of the second set of times associated with a scheduled replication of the second data object, 
 
 
 thereby backing up data to a replication target such that the data is recoverable from the replication target when the source application and one or more other intermediary replication targets are unavailable. 
 
     
     
       9. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 define the first set of times based on at least one of:
 an on demand replication, the on demand replication corresponding to a user request to replicate data at a first request time; and 
 a first service level agreement. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 define the second set of times based on at least one of:
 an on demand replication, the on demand replication corresponding to a user request to replicate data at a second request time; and 
 a second service level agreement. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when the first intermediary copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the first data object by comparing a first hash associated with an existing object at the first intermediary copy data management system with a second hash associated with the first data object. 
 
     
     
       12. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when the second copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the second data object by comparing a third hash associated with an existing object at the second copy data management system with a fourth hash associated with the second data object. 
 
     
     
       13. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the first image comprises compressed data. 
     
     
       14. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the first image is associated with a full backup of the application when the first image is associated with a first backup of the application. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having executable instructions operable to cause an apparatus to:
 receive, at a first intermediary copy data management system, a first data object associated with an application, the first data object:
 being replicated from a source copy data management system protecting the application, the first data object generated based on a first image associated with the application; and 
 being received based on a first schedule, the first schedule defining a first set of times associated with replicating the first data object from the source copy data management system to the first intermediary copy data management system, 
 create, at the first intermediary copy data management system, a second image associated with:
 the first data object when the first intermediary copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the first data object, and 
 one of the first set of times, the one of the first set of times associated with a scheduled replication of the first data object; and 
 
 
 replicate, at the first intermediary copy data management system, the first data object to generate at least one of a second data object and a third image at a second copy data management system, the second data object and the third image being generated based on the second image and according to a second schedule, the second schedule defining a second set of times associated with replicating the second data object from the first intermediary copy data management system to the second copy data management system, the third data image associated with:
 the second data object when the second copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the second data object, and 
 one of the second set of times, the one of the second set of times associated with a scheduled replication of the second data object, 
 
 thereby backing up data to a replication target such that the data is recoverable from the replication target when the source application and one or more other intermediary replication targets are unavailable. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 define the first set of times based on at least one of:
 an on demand replication, the on demand replication corresponding to a user request to replicate data at a first request time; and 
 a first service level agreement. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 define the second set of times based on at least one of:
 an on demand replication, the on demand replication corresponding to a user request to replicate data at a second request time; and 
 a second service level agreement. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine when the first intermediary copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the first data object by comparing a first hash associated with an existing object at the first intermediary copy data management system with a second hash associated with the first data object. 
 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine when the second copy data management system does not have an existing data object comprising the second data object by comparing a third hash associated with an existing object at the second copy data management system with a fourth hash associated with the second data object. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first image is associated with a full backup of the application when the first image is associated with a first backup of the application.